California Injury Blog

Published on: July 8, 2013

Simi Valley July 4 Fireworks Show Injures 36

By Brian Chase

At least 36 people suffered injuries after a fireworks show went awry in Simi Valley, sending airborne pyrotechnics hurtling into crowds of spectators. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the incident occurred on July 4, 2013 when about 10,000 people were gathered at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley to watch the Independence Day fireworks show. Officials say at least one pyrotechnic prematurely exploded in a mortar, causing a chain reaction that tipped over other fireworks and launched them into the crowd of spectators.

Victims ranging in age from 17 months to 71 years were transported to area hospitals. Twelve of the injured victims were children. Injuries included burns, shrapnel, trampling wounds and chest pains. Some also suffered lacerations and tinnitus or ringing in the ears. Officials said most victims were lucky that their injuries were not worse.
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Published on: July 3, 2013

Bay Area Nursing Home Fined in Patient Deaths

By Brian Chase

The California Department of Public Health has fined three Bay Area nursing homes a total of $200,000 for incidents of neglect that reportedly led to the deaths three residents. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, the facility, formerly known as Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation-Bay View in Alameda, was fined $75,000. O’Connor Hospital’s skilled nursing facility in San Jose was slapped with a $65,000 while St. John Kronstadt Convalescent Center in Castro Valley was fined $60,000. These are all Class AA citations, which the health department reserves for the most severe violations under the law.
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Published on: July 1, 2013

Bicyclist Killed in Laguna Beach Car Accident

By Brian Chase

James Mitchell Waller, a former Westminster police chief and city manager, was killed in a bicycle accident in Laguna Beach June 28, 2013. According to The Laguna Beach Patch, Waller and his friend, Kevin Beach, were riding southbound toward the city on Laguna Canyon Road. California Highway Patrol officials say the collision occurred in the long, open stretch of the highway south of the 405 Freeway and north of the 73 toll road when a 25-year-old woman driving a Toyota Corolla swerved and struck them.
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Published on: June 25, 2013

Two Killed in San Bernardino County DUI Crash

By Brian Chase

Two people, identified as Ismael Ramires Mejia, 26, and Lauriano Mejia Ramirez, 19, were killed in a DUI collision in San Bernardino County after the vehicle in which they were traveling was struck by s suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal car crash occurred the night of June 20, 2013 at the intersection of Cajon Boulevard and Fifth Street in Muscoy.
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Published on: June 24, 2013

Dog Fatally Mauls 6-year-old Boy in Union City

By Brian Chase

Nephi Selu, 6, was killed in a dog attack after a relative’s pit bull mauled him. According to a news report in The San Francisco Chronicle, the incident occurred the morning of June 17, 2013 at a grandparent’s home on Elizabeth Way in Union City. Family members said the boy was “actively playing” with the dog and may have attempted to climb onto the animal’s back. The dog then attacked the boy and bit him on top of his head.

Nephi died at the hospital shortly after the attack. Police have determined that the dog was properly licensed and had its required anti-rabies inoculation. The dog’s owner said it had never bitten anyone in the past. Officials said the boy was living with his grandparents and was attending school in Union City. The family reportedly keeps two pit bull mixes in the backyard.
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Published on: June 19, 2013

Road Rage Leads to Public Brawl in Van Nuys

By Brian Chase

Two men in business attire were caught on camera in what appeared to be a public brawl in Van Nuys. According to a KABC news report and video, the two men had just gotten off the 405 Freeway at Burbank Boulevard when all of a sudden, one of the men, apparently a lawyer, decided to take the law into his own hands. The lawyer, identified as Randalf Kincaid, got out of his car first and hit the driver of a BMW. The video then shows Kincaid turning back to get into his own car and leave the scene. At the time, the other driver, now bloodied from the hit he took, jumped on him, brought him to the ground and held him until authorities arrived.
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Published on: June 14, 2013

Stockton Woman Mauled by Pit Bulls

By Brian Chase

Samantha Williams, 25, was severely injured in a dog attack in Stockton after she was mauled by two pit bulls. According to a news report in The Record, the dog bite incident occurred in a home in the 1400 block of East Walnut Street. Williams was staying in the room of the house with her close friend, Anthony Morel, 36. At the time of the attack, Morel, who is not the dogs’ owner, was at a nearby store. When he came back, he heard Williams screaming out his name. When she came outside the room, he saw that she was bitten by dogs and was bleeding profusely.
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Published on: June 13, 2013

Teenager Suffers Brain Injury after Nearly Drowning in Swimming Pool

By Brian Chase

Anandre Thomas, 17, is on life support and may have suffered catastrophic brain injuries after a near-drowning accident at a public swimming pool, CBS Los Angeles report. Officials say the swimming pool accident occurred the afternoon of June 12, 2013 at Jesse Owens County Park in the 9800 block of South Western Avenue. Fire officials say four lifeguards were on duty at the pool at the time of the accident. Thomas was not breathing and had no pulse when lifeguards found him. They called for help and started CPR. But his family members say, Thomas was underwater for more than five minutes before lifeguards attempted a rescue.
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Published on: June 6, 2013

Swimming Pool Accidents in Riverside County

By Brian Chase

Two separate swimming pool accidents in Riverside County have left one toddler dead and another critically injured. Zachary Gordon Nahsohn, 2, of Murrieta, died June 4, just a few days after he was found floating in a backyard hot tub in Murrieta. On the same day, June 4, 2013, another 2-year-old girl in Murrieta was in critical condition, a day after she was found in a backyard pool. Police officials arrived at the home and began performing CPR.

The child was in full cardiac arrest, but regained a pulse in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. She remains in critical condition. Officials say the girl was found in the pool after a parent lost sight of her. In Zachary’s case, the boy had been playing in the hot tub with other children during a party at the family’s home when an adult noticed him floating facedown in the water. He was taken to a regional hospital where he died.

Riverside County Drowning Statistics

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Published on: June 3, 2013

Focus on Summer Travel Safety: Driving under the Influence

By Brian Chase

This is the fifth in a series of five blogs about staying safe during your summer travels and road trips. Read first four posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

Drunk driving crashes are an epidemic in Orange County and California – even more so in the summer. According to California Office of Traffic Safety, 10 Orange County cities rank among the worst statewide for rates of injuries and fatalities caused by driving under the influence. Of all the cities in the state with a population of 100,000 to 250,000, the city of Orange ranks number one for drunk driving collisions and fatalities. Newport Beach ranks number one for DUI crashes among cities with a population between 50,000 and 100,000. Santa Ana ranks third and Anaheim is at number 10 for worst cities with populations greater than 250,000.

Tips to Prevent DUI Collisions

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